Teacher’s Assistant/Tutor — Kenya
This is a customizable trip perfect for an individual or a couple. The dates and length of the trip are adapted to your schedule.
A lack of education is one of the factors that imprisons people in a life of poverty. You will be working in a church-sponsored school located in the Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya. Currently 300 children enrolled the school.
Requirements:
No formal training is required. Flexibility with the Kenyan educational style and method is important.
Ability in basic arts and crafts is helpful but not required.
We suggest you plan a few extra days to experience a Safari and/or a Maasai village.
Cost: $25 to $30 per day for room and board. In-country expenses (such as taxi or bus fares) are additional.
Visa Required.
What is the process for participating in this opportunity?
Each of the items below is discussed in the information that follows. This is provided as a convenient check list. We will help you with everything you need to prepare for your trip.
- Read the information about the trip
- Send in your application and $100 deposit
- Order the books required for your pre-field preparation
- Obtain a passport (or renew your passport if needed)
- Visa
- Vaccinations, if needed
- Book airline tickets
- Insurance
Schools in Kenya are out of session during April, August, and December. If you choose to make your trip during the times that school is out of session, activities will be limited to special activities and to working with the orphaned boys cared for at the church center.
Application. If you decide to apply for this opportunity, the first step is to fill out an application. As soon as we receive your deposit of $100 and application, we will email a copy to Kenya. They are directly involved in the approval process. If you have email addresses for your references, we can send them the information by email. The deposit is refundable up to four weeks prior to your trip. Please send your application to LEAMIS, P.O. Box 709, Monteagle, TN 37356.
Pre-Trip Preparation. Whether you are new to short-term missions or more experienced, we require those who participate in our mission opportunities to read the following: Foreign to Familiar by Sarah Lanier. We will also send you some additional reading via email.
The Kibera slums (located on the outskirts of Nairobi) are the largest slum in northern Africa. The average daily wage is $2. Needless to say, the poverty that exists there can be overwhelming. We will help you prepare for what you will see and experience, provide suggestions on dealing with poverty while in the country, and will also help you process the experience at the end of the trip so that you can integrate it into your daily faith walk after returning home. We don’t want any of our mission trips to be just another experience, but one that will have a lasting and meaningful impact throughout your life.
Passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the return date on your ticket. If you are a US citizen and do not have a passport or need to renew a passport, an application is available from main post offices. You can also go online at: http://www.uspassport123.com/
Visa. You can obtain a Visa from the Kenyan Embassy. Please check the web site listed below for the current visa cost. Processing your application will take a couple of weeks and you must know your travel dates. You can use agencies to process your visa. However, they charge additional funds for their services. Instructions and a visa application are available at the following web site: http://www.kenyaembassy.com/visa.html
Immunizations: At this time, there are no shots required to travel to Kenya. However, the CDC provides recommendations for travelers. For more information, please see their web page at for http://www.cdc.gov/index.htm, and click on Traveler’s Health.
Airline Tickets. Some people like to order tickets online. One thing you need to consider if you decide not to use a travel agent is that if something happens, such as an airline strike or cancelled flights, you are on your own to deal with the problem. A travel agent’s job includes helping you with such things.
Your tickets will be a major part of the expense of your mission trip. You may want to check with friends or relatives to see if they are willing to donate their Frequent Flyer Points for your ticket. This will mean flying stand-by and will require flexibility in your travel schedule.
Lay Over Time. If traveling from the States, you will probably have lay over time in either London or in Amsterdam.
If you go through London, pay special attention to your connection. If you fly into one of their airports and out the other one, there is a bus trip between terminals and rechecking of luggage. This takes more time than one might think so make sure you have at least 4-5 hours for this. With recent changes in flights and security, your travel agent may suggest a longer time. You may want to book an extra day or two on your trip to go sight-seeing in London. Note: Be sure to have your tickets and passport on your person so you can get back into the terminal!
If you go through Amsterdam, there is a great tour of the city available through various kiosks at the airport. You will need about $50 for the tour. Note: Be sure to have your tickets and passport on your person so you can get back into the terminal!
Insurance. LEAMIS requires that you have insurance coverage while involved in any of our mission programs.
Nairobi. Nairobi is a cosmopolitan city. Western influence is obvious throughout the city. You can find just about anything in Nairobi including McDonald’s and other fast-food restaurants. There is a stark contrast between parts of Nairobi and the Kibera slums – even though they are next to each other.
Accommodations. You will be staying in a home with one of the church families. Homes in Kenya are small and storage space is limited so you will want to travel light!
Finances: The cost of the trip depends on the length of your stay. A good estimate is $25-35 per day for room and board and a little extra for bus/taxi fare.
Water. Bottled water is readily available.
Extra: If your time in Kenya permits, consider allowing 2-3 days for a safari. If you do not have the time or the extra funds, you will at least want to take in the rehabilitation zoo for injured animals that is located in Nariobi.